Humidifier



July 30, 1929. AYQ NG 1,722,877

HUMIDIFIER Filed April 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. YOUNG Jilly 30,1929.

HUMIDIFIER Filed April 2'7, 192.8 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I -0 0 :52 H v 1Patented July 30, 1929.-

UNITED- STATES ARTHUR YOUNG, or noos'rou, arm's;

nommrma.

Application filed April 27, 1928. Serial No. 273,388.

The present invention relates to humidifiers adapted to be combined withgas heat ers, and the primary object of the invention is to provide. adevice of this Character which will be found especially well adapted foruse in residences for supplying clean and moisture laden air to therooms.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this natureembodying an arrangement whereby the hot air currents from the heatingelement will be directed upon a body of water in such manner as tobecome thoroughly moistened before being discharged into the atmosphereabout the heater.

A further object of the invention resides in the novel arrangementwhereby the hot air currents from the burner are directed laterally thrua steam chamber so as to thoroughly co-mingle with the steam beforeescaping thru suitable vent-s into the room.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a gasheater embodying in its construction air moistening means oi novelconstruction for thoroughly moistening the hot air currents from theburner prior to escape of the hot air from the heater.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an air moisteningdevice which may be readily and easily associated with existing types ofgas heaters whereby clean and moisture laden air will be supplied to theroom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thischaracter embodying a reservoir for the water which may be so related tothe burner as to cause the water to be quicklyheated for generatingsteam with which the hot air currents from the burner co-mingle.

Other. objects and advantages of the in-- vention will be apparentduring the course of therfollowing detailed description,'taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of humidifier shown detachedfrom a gas heater of conventional construct-ion.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the humidifier as applied to theheater;

Figure 3 is a central vertical section thru the humidifier shown appliedto the heater and showing a fragmentary portion of the upper end of theheater broken away for illustrating the manner ll. Which the hot aircurrents from the heater burner will be directed into the humidifier.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the form of .humidifier shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3 and looking at the front or that side of the deviceadapted for engagement with the rear wall of the heater.

Figure 5 is a central verticalsection thru a slightly modified form ofhumidifier shown applied to a gas heater.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the front side of theform ofhumidifier shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a gas heater showing the humidifierincorporated in a heater construction.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary central vertical sect-ion thru the heaterillustrated in Fig ure 7. I

Referring to the drawings in detail, and

wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthruout the several views, the letter A designates a conventional typeof radiant gas heater and B and C slightly modified forms of humidifiersfor detachable association with the heater A.

The gas heater A as shown in each of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 is of usualconstruction embodying a metallic casing 10 being open at its front sideand provided with suitable supporting legs 11. The casing 10 is ofsubstantially rectangular shape in formation and is provided with sidewalls 12, a top wall 13, and a back or rear wall 14 shown in Figure 3which in ordinary practice is provided at its vertical center andadjacent its upper .end with a rearwardly projecting collar 15. A cap 16as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 is supplied with each heater for closingthe flue vent formed by the collar 15 when it is not desired to attachthe vent pipe to the collar as shown by dotted lines in Figure 3 andwherein the vent pipe has been shown applied to the flue vent of thehumidifier. Mounted in the open casing 10 is the usual radiant orheating element 17 heated in the usual and customary manner by a gasburner not shown, and arranged over the front open side of the casing isthe usual guard 18.

Referring now to the specific construction and manner of attachment ofthe form of humidifier B as shown in'Figure's 1 to 4 inclusive, andwhich device is intended to be applied to the rear side of the heater A,the same is constructed entirely from sheet metal to provide a watertank or reservoir 20. This receptacle or reservoir 20, and which isrelatively narrow as to thickness, is formed with flat front and rearwalls 21 and 22 respectively, straight end walls 23, and a flat bottom24. The upper end of the tank 20 is provided thruout its length with aforwardly offset hollow shelf forming portion 25 the lower wall of whichis intended to rest upon the top wall 13 of the heater. The end walls ofthe hollow projecting portion 25 and which form continuations of the endwalls 23, project below the bottom of the shelf forming portion toprovide attaching plates 26 which may be apertured as at 27.

Provided at the vertical center of the front wall 21 and spaced slightlybelow the portion 25 is a circular-shaped opening 28 of a diameterslightly greater than the diameter of the heater collar 15. Arranged attherear wall 22 and inaxial alignment with the circular opening 28 is acollar 29 forming a flue vent for the receptacle 20. This collar 29 isof a size equal to that of the heater collar 15 and is intended toreceive ture 31 in the heater side walls for the usual cap 16 ordinarilyemployed for closing the flue vent of the heater formed by the collar15. The tank 20 is of a height and width substantially equal to theheight and width of the heater casin 10 and is intended to be applied tothe eater with the front wall 21 of the tank engaging in surface contactwith the rear wall 14 of the heater, and the. shelf forming portion 25projecting over the top wall of the heater so as to act as a support forthe tank. The depending plates 26 will engage the side walls 12 of theheater and a suitable bolt or the like as at 30 in Figure 2 may bepassed thru the apertures 27 and an aligning aperetachably connectingthe upper portion of the tank to the heater. The front tank wall 21 maybe rovided at its lower end with an apertures attaching ear 32 which maybe secured to the lower portion'of the heater as by means of a bolt orthe like 33. Thus it will be seen that the bolts 30 and 33 serve asmeans for readily and detachably vconpling the tank or water receptacleto the heater.

The top wall 34 of the shelf forming portion 25 has hingedly connectedto its rear edge a plate-like lid 35 which may be provided at its freeedge with a yieldable tongue 36 for hooking-over a. suitable pro jectionprovided at the upper edge of the rear tank wall 22. As will be observedin Figure 3, this hinged lid 35 is arranged immediately above the tankproper and provides means whereby water may be easily placed in the tankupon opening the lid.

' When the lid 35 is closed it will be seen that the lid and wall 34will provide a fiat top which is spaced from the top wall 13 of theheater and thus will not become excessively heated as to prevent placingof objects upon the top of the humidifier.

Provided in each of the end walls 23 of the tank and arranged inhorizontal alignment with the collar 29 is a suitable number of smallopenings 38 providingvents thru which the humid air may escape from thechamber formed in the upper portion of the tank.- These vent openings 38are formed in the end walls 23 below the extension 25 so as to preventescape of an' excessive amount ofsteam from the device. -Thus it will beseen that a pocket is formed in the upper portion of the tank, and aportion of the steam will be condensed upon striking the top wall 34 andlid 35 and. be returned to the tank proper without being carried thruthe openings 38.

' Adapted for positioning over the heater collar 15 is a deflector 40embodying a sleeve portion 41 for slidably fitting over the collar and'a baffle plate 42 arranged at such an angle as to cause the. hot aircurrents from the heating element 17 to be directed downwardly into thetank 20 as shown by the arrows in Figure 3. This baflle 42 is in theform of a hood and when the deflector is in position on the collar 15acts to prevent any products of condensation from entering the openingformed by the collar 15 and passing into the heater casing. The

The water is placed in the tank 20 andmaintained at an elevationapproximately as shown in Figure 3. When the burner for heating theradiant 17 is lighted, the surface contact between the heater and tankwalls 14 and 21 respectively will cause the water in the tank to beheated to an extent for producing a small amount of steam in the upperportion of the tank. The hot air currents from thera'diant 17 will bedirected thru the collar 15'and deflected downwardly uponthe water bythebaflie 42 at the center of the tank and then pass laterally in eachdirection toward the ends of the tank thru the steam before escapingthru the vent openings 38 at each end of the tank. The

upper end of the receptacle, and which lid may be provided with a springcatch 50 for engaging over a suitable projection provided at the upperedge of the rear wall 46. Provided at the vertical. center 'of the frontwall 45 and spaced below a are provided with a suitable number ofopenings 53 which are spaced below' the upper edges of the Walls andpreferably in horizontal alignment with the opening 51. A- deflector 40'as referred to in the description of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive is appliedto the' collar 15 for directing the hot air current downwardly into thetank and then laterally across the water surface to the vent openings53.

The upper portion ofthe front wall 45 is provided} with suitableapertures 54 thru which suitable bolts 55. may be passed for attachingthe receptacle to the rear side of the heater. The lower end of the wall45 may be provided with an apertured tongue 56 for attaching the lowerportion of the receptacleto the heater.

With the form of humidifier as shown in Figures 5 and 6 and wherein thedevice is provided with a flat front side, such will permit of this typeof device being applied to practically all types of gas heaters havingrearwardly opening flue vents, regardless as to the width of the heateror the specific location of the collar 15.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, and wherein the humidifier has beencombined as an integral part of the heater, the device has been shown ascomprising a casing 60 v embodying end walls 61, a rear wall 62, and

a bottom wall 63. Arranged vertically within the casing 60 inparallelrelation to the rear wall 62, is a partition plate 64 which extendsthruout the height of the casing and divides the same; into tank andburner compart-ments 65 and 66-respectively. The partition plate 64 isprovided at its upper end and at a point midway between the side edgeswith an opening 67 forming the only means of communication between thetank and burner compartments. The front side of the compartment 66 isopen and this compartment is intended to house a suitable burner heatedradiant 68. A guard 69 may be arranged over the open side of the burnercompartment. The upper end of the burner compartment 66 is closed by atop wall 70, and hingedly connected to the rear edge of the wall v70 isa lid 71 acting as a closure for the tank compartment 65.

A deflecting hood 72 is arranged over the opening 67 and projects intothe tank compartment above the water level for directing the hot aircurrent from the burner heated radiant 68 downwardly into the tankcompartment and along the surface of the water contained therein. Thatportion of the end walls 61 which form the end walls for the tankcompartment 65 are provided with a suitable number of vent openings 74which are arranged in spaced relation below the lid 71. The rear casingwall 62 is provided with a tubular extension or collar 75 forming anopening into the upper portion of the tank compartment .65, and whichextension is provided with a removable cap 76 for allowing a vent pipeto be applied to the collar when such is desirable.

In each of the three forms of invention shown it will be seen that thewater receptacle is relatively flat and is disposed directly behind theradiant so that the body of water will be quickly heated. It will alsobe observed in each form of device that the hot air currents from theburner enter the water compartment at the central portion thereof andare directed downwardly and caused to travel in opposite directionsalong the water surface before escaping thru the vent openings providedat opposite ends of the water compartment.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that an improveddevice of this character has been provided which will be foundespecially well adapted for use in connection with gas heaters, andembodying features of operation whereby the dry hot air currents fromthe burner will be caused to travel thru and caused to co-mingle with asteam vapor before passing into the room.

Changes in detail may be made to the forms of invention herein shown anddescribed, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A humidifier comprising in combination, a casing having .a rear wall,a water receiving receptacle behind said wall and having vent openings,said rear wall having a passageway adjacent its upper end formingcommunication into the receptacle, a

burner heated radiant arranged in the casing forwardlyof said rear wallfor heating said water, the hot air currents from above said radiantbeing adapted to pass into the receptacle thru said passageway in therear wall, and deflecting means arranged. over the passageway within thereceptacle for directing the hot air currents downwardly upon the waterin the receptacle.

2. A humidifier comprising in combination, a c sing includi g a rear walhav g an opening provided in its upper end midway between the sides ofthe casing, a water receiving compartment arranged rearwardly of saidrear casing wall and having" vent openings provided 1n each end wallthereof, means for closing the upper end of the compartment, a burnerheated radiant arranged in the casing forwardly of said rear wall for'heating said water, and a deflecting plate arranged over the opening inthe rear wall for directing hot air currents from above d the radiantdownwardly in the water comhaving vent openings provided in each endwall thereof above the water level in the compartment, a hinged closurelid for the upper end of the tank compartment, a burner heated radiantarranged in the tank compartment, and a deflector hood arranged over theopening in said partition -plate for directing the hot air currents fromabove the radiant downwardly into the tank compartment midway betweenthe end walls thereof. I 4. In an air moistening attachment for gasheaters including a burner heated radiant and a casing having a fluevent opening thru the rear wall thereof, a water tank adapted forattachment to the casing in overlying relation to the rear wall thereofand having an opening for registering with said flue vent, said tankhaving vent openings provided adjacent each end thereof, and a deflectordetachably associated with said flue vent for directing the hot aircurrents from above the radiant downwardly into the tank.

5. In an air moistening attachment for gas heaters including a casingand a heating element arranged in the casing, and said casing beingprovided adjacent its upper end and at its vertical center with arearwardly projecting collar forming a flue vent; a water:

receptacle having an opening provided in its front wallifor receivingsaid collar, means for detachably connecting the receptacle to theheater casing in surface contact with the rear wall thereof, a hingedclosure lid for the receptacle, said receptacle having providedspacedbelow the closure lid, and deflecting means for the hot aircurrents from above 1n each end wall thereof vent apertures t theheating element including a sleeve for attachment to said .collar and adeflectingplate for directing the hot air current downwardly in thewater receptacle at a location midway between the end walls thereof.

6, In an air moistening attachment for gas heaters including a heatingelement and a casing having ,a rearwardly projecting collar forming aflue vent; a water receptacle including end, front and rear, and bottomwalls, said front wall having an opening for receiving said collar, andsaid rear wall having a collar forming a flue vent, a cap for detachableconnection with the flue vent of the receptacle, said end walls of thereceptacle being provided adjacent their upper ends with a series ofvent openings, a closure lid for the receptacle, a deflector detachablycassociated with the collar of the heater casing for deflecting the hotair currents of the heating element downwardly in the water receptacle,and means for detachably coupling the receptacle to the rear side of theheater casing.

7. As an article of manufacture,van air moistening attachment for gasheaters comprising a substantially narrow tank having a hollow shelfforming extension projecting forwardly from the upper end of the frontwall of the tank, a hinged closure lid for prising a tank includingfront, rear, end and bottom walls, said front wall having an openingadjacent its upper end and at its vertical center for receiving a fluevent of the heater, said rear wall having a sleeve-like projectionforming a flue vent, a removable cap for positioning on the sleeve toclose the outer end thereof, said end walls of the tank each beingprovided adjacent its upper end with a series of vent apertures, and ahinged lid hin edly connected at one edge to the top edge 0 the-frontwall of the tank to permit oaflnlieady replenishing of the water in theARTHUR YOUNG.

